Multiple-coin-controlled turnstile



Ma'y13i 1930. is. E. GROVE? r 1,75 ,514.

MULTIPLE COIN CONTROLLED TURNSTILE Filed July 24, 1928 e "Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR ATTORNEY cs. E. GROVER MULTIPLE. CO-INYCONTROLLEDJURNSTILE May13, 1930;

{ Filed July 24, 1928 e S h ee ts-Sheet 2 INVENTQR y f Mia/*2; ATTORNEYMay l3, 1930; G. E. GROVER I Y 1,753,514

7 MULTIPLE COIN CONTROLLED TURNSTILE Filed July 24, 1928 Q 6Sheets-Sheet 3 May 13, 1 930. L G. E. GROVER 1,753,514 MULTIPLE COINCONTROLLED TURNSTILE Filed July 24, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 lain OR I BYMay 13, 1930. G. E. GROVER v MULTIPLE COIN CONTROLL ED TURNS'I'ILE FiledJuly 24, 1928 6 Shee1;s-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 8 B i 3 (24A, 7 22,, V ATTORNEYMay 13,1930." G. E. GROVER MULTIPLE COIN CONTROLLED flURNSTILE FiledJuly 24, 19 28 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR 6.51am

ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1930 res GEORGE E. GROVEB, OF NEW YORK, N, Y.,ASSIGNOR T or .irriee FREDERICK T. TOWZNE, OF

PORT CHESTER, NEW YORK, AND JAMES, S. HEDGES AND W. H. L. EDWARDS, OF

NEW YORK, N. v.

Application filed July 24, 1928. Serial No, 294,954.

This invention relates to coincontrolled turnstiles for use inregulating the passage of persons at the entry or exit of cars,stations, buildings, parks, etc.

Such devices are ordinarily cumbersome, occupying valuable space,particularly when the prepayment coins are entered at points remote fromthe axis of the turnstile as is usual, and in which case dependence isplaced upon electrical contrivances to release the stile restrainingmechanism.

Obviously such stiles are expensiveto install, notireadilyremovable,frequently fail to function, causing annoyance and loss of time, andrequire expert mechanical and electrical attention, and are thereforecostly to maintain and operate; furthermore, all such mechanisms aredevised for operation upon the entry of a single coin and consequently'29 are unavailable where two or more coins of different value arerequired as the passage price.

It is therefore an object of the present i-nvention to provide a lightweight, easily portable prepayment turnstile directly receptive of twocoins at a point essentially at the axis of its rotatable arms,convenient of access.

A further feature is in the provision of. a purely mechanical apparatus,selectively receptive of suitable coins and utilizing the same to securerelease of the restraining mechanism whereby the stile arms may be givena fractional forward turn, thereafter becoming locked until furtherprepayment coins are inserted, the operation being entirely automatic.

Another purpose, is to produce a turnstile that is instantly responsiveto the entry of the coins, no appreciable delay beinggencoun tered, andwhich returns coins entered in excessof the necessary number, also allirriproper, and registhin coins or substitutes, ters each fulloperation.

Other advant geou f a u es ar in th provision of yielding elements whichserve to ushien th mpa te a r l-se aga n the stile arms,preventingbodily injury and also amage the me a m; in the d s g Qt anoperative mechanism adapted for long wear ii under the severe service towhich such mechanisms are subjected, and which can be removed, as :anentity, should occasion demand, and another substituted.

Asiwill be seen this device may be easily repaired or assembled, and ifit is desired it can be made reversible for the exit of passe-ngerswithout the payment-of any coins.

These and other-important objects, which will become apparent as thedescription progresses, are attained by the novel design, constructionand combination of parts as hereinafter described and illustrated in theaccompanyingzdrawings, the same constituting a material part of thisdisclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention ascompletely assembled in position for operation.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure with the housing, cover plate,and coin entrance escutcheon removed.

- Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing the mainoperative elements, looking from front to rear, on line 3-3 of Figure 2.Figure l is a similar sectional view, taken in a plane at a right angleto Figure 3, on line 4+4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on line 55of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the coindetermining and release mechanism. e

The turnstile, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a hollow rectangularupright column 15 having an outwardly flanged bottom and being providedwith a door 16 in one of its sides, the top of the column being fiat andcontaining a central opening.

A cylindrical base 17 is bolted on the column by corner lugs 18, thebase having an inreaching annular flange 19, (see Figures3 and l) in theouter portion of which is a seat for the lower race element of anantifriction bearing 20.

The upper race of the bearing is secured in a similar seat in theunderside of a flange 21 formed on the lower end of a swivel cylinder 22surrounded by a band 23,.rigidly sec re ts it an having. ee p i o r lcent the raised front and side walls,

arm brackets 24, between which are bolted the top of the housing, theinner wall 31 of the channel being spaced uniformly with the outer walland is of equal helght therewith. A semi-circular cover plate 32IS'S'SCHIGCl to the wall 31, as is also a rectangular cover coinescutcheon plate '33, and rear plate 34, these plates togethercompletely covering the opening in the top of the housing 27 The presentdisclosure is that of a mechanism controlledby two coins of unlikedenominations, to'wit: a copper cent and a nickel five cent piece, theformer'being entered' through the escutcheon slot 35, and the latterthrough the longer slot 36, offset slightly to the rear.

Each coin enters through its respective slot, passingmagnets 37 ,(seeFigures 3 and 4) to be engaged by spring actuated coin shooters 38 39,which project the coins downwardly'and'angularly towards the center toenter apertures 40-41, in the convergent angular upper ends of a doublecoin chute 42, having a central partition 43 and containing angularlydisposed runways 44- 45, crossing each other at their upper ends. 4Below the outer edges of-the runways the copper coin, now at the rightside of the center of the chute, at the front, passes over the beveledface of a transverse guide 46 and the nickel coin correspondinglystrikes the oppositely beveled face of a guide 47,

whereby both coins are moved into the same upon the upper exverticalplane and drop posed edge of a bafile 50'50 upon which the coinstemporarily rest, this battle being later on more fully described. I

In the event that spurious coins have been deposited, or that propercoins fail to enter the runways, such coins will be received in thecasing 42" 5152, which are connected at their lower ends, the connectionbeing open at the bottom 53 permitting the coins to drop into a conduit54 leading to a returnicoin cup 55, accessible through the side of thebase 17 at the front, as ,best seen in Figures 1 and 4.

The conduit 54 extends opening in a frame 56 fixed in a circular recessin the top of the flange 19, of the base 17.

The frame 56 has four raised lugs, 57 57 at the front, and 58-585 ter,pair having secured to them the rear cupped edgeof the return coin chute54, a

and follow the outer passages site corner of the bolt is rounded to atthe rear, the latheld by screws to the tops ring ring 66 having fourinner cam faces 67,

terminating in distinct stops 68 at the ends of recesses 69.

Above the ring 64 is a ratchet ring 70 having an internal row of teeth71, amongst which are four equally disposed spaces or teeth omissions72, and fixed in the rim of the ring 7 O are four inreaching angularhardened cam plates 73 disposed approximately midway of the spaces 72,to engage a slide plate cam as will later be seen,

The several rings 64'6670, which will later be more fully described, arefixed in the interior of the upwardly to a plane level with its upperedge, coincident with the band 23, and immediately below the housingbase ring 26, which is fixed on the lugs 5757, and 58 58 of the frame 5The turnstile is brought into its finally adjusted position by a plunger75 slidable at one end in the lug 63 and having at the other end ahead77 containing a longitudinal slot 78 through which passes ascrew 79,set in the block 62, to guide the plunger in its movement, the plungerbeing urged outwardly by astrong encircling helical spring 76, (seeFigure 5 abutting the head 77 and lug 63, respectively. The outer end ofthe head 77 is bevelled on its opposite side edges and contains a recess'81 in which is rotatably mounted a roll 82, the same being forcedoutwardly by the spring 6 to engage the recesses 65 in the plunger ring64, the effect being to resiliently retain the arms 24in any of theirfour positions.

The locking ring 66 has four uniformly curved inner cam surfaces 67,blending into straight portions reaching to the bottoms of recesses 69having abrupt stop shoulders 68.

A locking bolt is slidably mounted'in a groove 86, in the upper portionof the block 61, and held therein by cover strips 87. The bolt'has atits rear a post 88, carrying a trans verse pin 89, its extending endsengaging a pair of springs adapted to draw the bolt outwardly so thatits end is held'incontact down through an with the cam 67, and entersthe recesses 69 to abut the stops 68, one of the bolt end corners beingsquare for that purpose while the opporide easily on the inclinedsurfaces of the recesses, opposite the stops when the rings are turning.

provided with an opening 91 The bolt 85 is lie directly in --front.. ofthe post 88, and into outwardly, :bya spring actuated plunger 9&

set in the lug 57, to engage the, teeth 71 of the ratchet ring 70, andit is to be noted that the pawl is disposed in one of the spaces 7 2 ofthe ring when the turnstile arms are in their normal position, thepurpose being to allow a moderate movement of the arms for operatin -thecoin mechanism. 7

lteturning to the coins, which have previously been traced to rest uponthe upper edge of the haffie 50, as may best be seen in Figures 1 and,6, these coins being guided at their sides between the adjacent walls96' of the chute 42, the walls each having apertures 97-98,otlesserdiameter than the coins, one side'of each coin being clearlyvisible from the outside of the mechanism through an enlarging lens 99,set in the housing 27, and it is to be noted that one side 51 of thebattle is higher than the other to receive the cent and hold it so thatits center is level with the center of the nickel on-t-he other, lowside, when the coins are between the openings 9798.

The bot-toms of the coin chute plates 95-96 V are spaced slightly abovethe edge of the bafile 50, which is pivoted at its lower side edges onpintles 100, carried in brackets 101 on the under side of the base plate00, fixed on the lugs of the stationary frame 56, this plate alsosupporting footings 102 of the coin l chute,

The coin chute plates 95 96 and the central partition 43 have a centralrecess103, eX- tending upwardly from their lower edges, and acorresponding, registering recess 104 is formed in the bafile 50 (seeFigures 4 and 6). i

A bracket 105 is secured to the chute plate 96, the bracket having rearreaching arms between which is pivoted, at 106, a lever 107, having aforked lower end engaging apin 108, set in the bafiie to cross therecess 10 1, in which the lever operates in swinging the bafile upon itspintles.

A projecting arm 109 on the lever 107 above its pivot has fixed in it atransversely disposed wire 110, terininating'in curved right angularlybent ends 111, raised to enter notches in the tops of the apertures97-98,

when .the lever is n ovedvto let the turnstile operate, these 'bent ends111 serving to return a'fll'lcoins' entered during the operation.

Connected to the up per endofthe lever 107 is one of the forked ends ofa link 112, its opposite end pivotally' engaging the upper end of a locklever 113, the lower, semi-circulariend of which is loosely engaged inthe slot 91 of thebol-t 85, as hest seen in Figure 3. "The fixedbaseplatefiOis provided with an pen ng lh hits frchtpcrtichl-at the rearedge of which is dcwnwardlv 'EXFQILCll lug 1 and thcre pcir icnr c the apair. of spaceddownreaching lugs be ween wh is gu de a s iderpl t camll8 ha ing a nvgingly b v led cut l adaptcdtc hgag the n z a hi ghc lcclcam 3 fired in the upper edge oi the ratchet ring 70.

T b se plat 6 has on ts amp r snrt longitudinal guides 119 at its sideedges, the same being -h igh er,' as at 119', midway V of th P ate-thenthose portions whi h xt n from the curved front end thereof, and-slidaby cunte l etwe thes gh dcs i asl d Pla 120, ha ng an ope ng 12 at ea h dcf, whi h ar c pairof spaced downreaching lugs 122, making contact attheir front edges withthe inner end of the slide plate cam 118,,the samebeing provided with 124, by whi h p te 2 h idging h rear ofthe lugs 122,is secured. :The plate 125, hyw eas cfthescrews,

ves t igid y lamp th slide-pla am 118, and slide plate 120, togetherasan operhhit, wh ch P e s d .cu vacd m tc cause engagement oftlleceln18. and th 7.3;, by a elicel v QQ lQ lICOZILPIQSSiQQI spring 11 .6, thends cf wh ch abut the bridge Jlate and1base plate lug 1 1,5respectively.

" The: TliCl PlatB 120 is provided on its upner ur a e, with h .pe lflcfspaced nnclelzcnt guides 127, 111 which .15 opera v @lQQklDg l r lid 1having a c c ae s -1 rec ptive cia P lEiQ, set th slide plate l 0,-tc,i,mi the rela iv i cvemcnt f the dcsa i r A pair of raised lugs 131 011hh'e locking olcvc s ide 2 lsccn ccd c QQcivet/he locliing cvc 1 3, hvtcch thein ahd carry pin 132,engaging a slot 133 in the lever,313,633;-

rnitting relative-movement, and acting as an auiriliary fulcrunifor thelocking lever 128',

the lever extending through an opening 13% j in the slide towards itsmain 'fujlcr-tnn 1123. The guides 11.9 on the base plate GOhave securedto them guide strips 135 Which-oven lie the forward side portions of theslide plate. 120, and extend into grooves in thei coin rackslide 136,movable therein] The guide strips have inreachin'g hooklikehele inents135 for a purpose later apparent.

' Independently slidable belowthe caps on the coin rack'slide 136 are gapair of'raeks 140-441 having set in their front ends detector pins 142-143, registerin with-the cen- .tersolt the apertures 97 98 5111" Idjistancedibelow theopp'osed pins 111, the rear ends of the racks," whenin their innermost position, 1139 v {making contact with the hookelements 137'.

These racks engage the-teeth on opposite sides of a spur gear l iiimounted to freely rotate on a stud "145set in the coin rack slide 136,and from thetop of the stud is a projection 146, to which isattached oneend ofatension spring 1 17,"engaging the upper end of the lever 113,drawing the locking having a stepped end 150 and midway in its "length,on its under side, an angular projection 151, the latch being'presseddownwardly by a flat spring 152 and fixed to a bridge 153-connectingacross the tops ofthe lugs148.

Th'e'latoh projection 151 acts in the manner of a cam, on the beveledupper end of a post 154 set in the-fixed base plate 60 and eX- overcome,the end out this bolt being pressed tending upward through a slot 155 inthe slide plate-120, the post -1 also acting as a stop for coin rackslide 136.

, Theoperation ofthe mechanism will now be explained :Should coinsinadvertently escape from the fingers of a person using the turnstile 1and roll off the plates 32-3334,they are readily retrieved from thecircuitous channel 30 at the top of the apparatus; a

When a cent has entered the escutcheon slot 3 5, and pressed to passthrough the projectingdevice38, it isejected with some force and causedto take an angular path, inwardly towards the center, to enter the coinchute aperture 40, follow the passage 44, being deflected 'slightlyrearward by the beveled face i of the guide 46 to=come to rest on theupper edge oftheraised'portion 50-of the baffle.

Similarlya nickel, passed through the slot 36 is projected downwardly atan angle to enterthe aperture 4l,guide d by the passage 45 over theguide 47, to come to rest on the "lower portion ofthe battle 50, thecenters oftboth coins being essentially on the same I v The coinsareheld upright by the walls 95- -96 of the chute and central with thewall openings9798, being guided at'their outer ,edges by inreachingangular blocks 19- 19 tion 43.

and at their inner-edges by the central parti- "Obviously, if anobjectot greater dimensions be presented at the slots '3536, theycaiinot s 'enteri; if smaller objects are entered .theyarenotsubjectedto the action of the de- J vices: 38-39 and therefore dropinto the wide open upperendof the casing 42, following the passages5152,conduit 54, and come to rest in th'e return 001111301155. i

The same occursin the case of entry of obcoins will be delivered bygravity through the movement by engagement of the pawl 92 with theteeth71 of the ratchet ring 70, fixed in the swivel cylinder 27., which, byreason not its rigid connection with the arm carrying band 23 is rotatedby the stile arms.

A further obstruction is encountered by the arm, consisting of thespring pressed roll 82.

engaged in the depressions of the plunger ring 64, which is also rigidin the cylinder 27, the angular edges of the depression requiringmoderate force to overcome, depending upon the yieldability of thespring76.

There still remains the locking bolt 85 to normally held midway in therecesses to present an open space between its square corner and therecess abutment 68, this condition being due to the spring actuated,plunger carried roll 82, which adjusts the position of the arms aftereach operation, completing any deficiency and restoring them to positionshould they be given a slightly excessive movement.

Thus it willbe seen that the arms may be given an initial movement, dueto the yielding of the spring 75, and limited by the dis tance betweenthe lock boltedge and abutment 68.

One of the four equally spaced inreaching angular faced cams 73, carriedby the ring 70, fixed in the cylinder, however, is in contact with thecorrespondingly angled end of the slide plate cam 118,'causing it tomove in wardly, concurrently'with the initial move- I ment of the arms,against the pressure of the spring 126.

Such inward movement advances the slide plate 120, carrying the leverfulcrum 123 with it, and also the slides 128 and 136, together with theracks 140141, until the detector pins 142-143 have made contact with thecoins resting on the baflie 50-50'. hen the coins prevent furtherforward movement of the racks, and the coin rack slide 136, carrying thegear 144:, meshed with the racks, the slide 128 is restrained fromfurther forward movement through the intermediary of the latch150.

Thus the pivot 132 in the upper portion of the lever 113 becomesstationary, but as the pivot 123 continues to advance, the top of lever1'13 tilts away'from the coin chute into an angular position, causingits lower rounded end to engage the post 88 and retract the lock bolt85. y

As the lever 113 is tilted it actuates the link 112, tilting the lever107 in the same direction, which action is transmitted to the baflie inan opposite direction, due to the toggle connections, permitting thecoins towdrop off its iipper edgeand be received in the open upper' endsof coin conduits 158158, respectively for cents and nickels, wherebythey are delivered to suitable separate receptacles in the cabinet base15 accessible through the door 16.

Goincidently with tilting the bafifle to discharge coins into the chutes158158, the wires 111, carried by the lever 107, are caused to enter thenotches above the opening 97-98, but should coins be entered at suchtime as the interceptor wires 111 are in the notches, the coins willroll by gravity through the side passages 4445, over the guides 49-49',

into the return coin conduits 51-52 to be restored to the operator fromthe cup 55.

It is to be noted that elements -69- 7273 and 85 are so positioned andproportioned as to present an initial yielding movement of the stilearms, followed by a smooth and uniformly easy movement until a fullquarter turn has been attained and that when the limit of the action isreached a cushioned effect ensues, rather than an abrupt shock.

For the purpose of illustration let it be assumed' that only a cent hasbeen entered and no nickel, or that a washer corresponding in dimensionsto a nickel be delivered on the baffle 50 at the opening 97.

This condition may be visually ascertained through the enlarging lens 99in the wall of the cylinder 27, and is mechanically indicated in thefollowing manner.

Upon the forward movement of the racks, the detector pin 143 meets noresistance, passing through space if no coin be entered or through theopening in a washer like substitute.

The other pin 142, however, contacts with the side of the cent in theopening 98, and as the slide 136 advances, causes the gear 144 to turn,thus permitting further forward movement of the slide 136 and the latch150, the latch camming off by contact between its project-ion 151, withthe beveled top of the fixed pin 154, thus releasing the coin rack slide136, which is drawn back against the pin 154 by the spring 147.

The racks 140-141, are carried by the coin rack slide and make contactwith the inreaching hooks 135 whereby they turn the gear 144 and attainthe normal uniform position, but the slide 128, not having beenretarded, the lever 113 will remain substantially upright and transmitno movement to the lock bolt 85.

The link 112 transmits a reverse motion to the lever 107, causingthebaffle to tilt and deposit the coins or other objects that areresting on its edge into the open end of the coin return conduit 54, toarrive in the coin return box 55.

The action of the coins from the instant they have been entered throughthe slots 35-36, is accelerated by the spring shooting devices 3839, on.their way to the battle, which is positioned but a short distance fromthe inlet, and no delay is encountered, release of the stile arms beingso rapid as to be .practically' instantaneous with the entry of theproper-coins. V

Each operation of the turnstile is indicated on a counting register 160,visible through an opening in the panel 33, the register beingactuatedbya crank 161 having a link 162, connecting a lever. 163, pivoted at 164on a bracket 165, raised from the station-. ary base ring26;

The. lever is provided at its lower end, below the pivot, with anangular arm 166,

disposed in the path of the cams 73 and drawn'into position to operateupon contact with them by a tensionspring 167.

This device could also be adapted for use on entrances, cars or busses,where a transfer system is in operation, and where the usual fare callsfor the deposit of but one coin. In this modified form threeslots couldThis delivere'dtoken would obviate the necessity for the delivery by theconductor or motor-man, or -other attendant of. a paper transfer slipand for this reason the modification would be of great value on cars orbusses with butv one attendant, and at entranceswhere there was noattendant.

As changes of construction could be made within thescope of theinvention, it is intend-' ed that all matter sustained in the foregoingdescription or shown-in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 7

Having thus describedthe invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto secure by Letters Patent, 1s a V c 1. A com controlled turnstilecomprising a support, a cylinder revoluble thereon, arms on saidcylinder, a ring fixed in the cylinder having internalgrooves.corresponding tothe arms, a lock bolt spring pressed to engagein the grooves to prevent turning ofthe cylinder, and means operableupon the deposit of a plurality of coins to retract said bolt.

2. In a coin controlled turnstile, a support, a cyllnder carrying st1learms revoluble-on said support, a rigid frame extending into thecylinder from the support, a cover carried by'said stand, said coverhaving spaced entrances for a plurality of coins of unlikedenominations, chutes into which each coin is projected, a pivotedbafile on which the edges of the coins come to rest, a coin returningconduit on one side of sand baffle, coin retaln- 'ing conduits on theopposite side, means to antomatically lock said cylinder, and meanscontrolled by the coinson said baffle to permit operation on said stilearms.

V3. In a coin controlled turnstile, a support, a cylinder carryingvstile arms revoluble on saidsupport, a rigid frame extending into thelink connecting said levers, means on saidslide for mechanicallyactuating the levers whereby the suitability of the coins is. deter.-mined, and means combined therewith for retaining proper coins,rejecting improper coins and for retracting. said bolt 4. In a coincontrolled turnstile, a support, a cylinder carrying stile armsrevoluble on said support, a rigid frame extending into the cylinderfrom the support, a bolt on said frame to lock the cylinder, a lowermain slide on said frame, a lever pivoted therein and engaging saidlimit, a forward slide and a rear slide movable on the main slide, atilta'hle 1 baffle to receive entered coins, a lever having toggleconnections with the baffle, a link between said levers, coin detectorelements inde pendently'movable on the forward slide, a

spring pressed latchon the forward slide normally spacmg the rear slide,a cam on the frame to raise said latch upon an abnormal forward movementof the forward slide, such movement occurring upon failure of one orboth of the detector elements to strike acoin, V

and means to advance the main slide upon the initial movement ofsaid'arms.

5. In a coin controlled turnstile, a support, a hollow cylinderrotatable thereon, stile arms carried by said cylinder, a frame on saidsupport extending into the cylinder, a coin receiving baffle tiltable onsaid support, coin conduits at the sides ofsaid bafile for proper andimproper coins respectively, a slide on said su sort means on said slideto verif the suitability'of each coin, means for tilting the baffleinaccordanee therewith, a spring pressed bolt looking the cylinder withsaid frame, and means permitting the retraction of said bolt upon thereception of proper coins, said means lbeinginoperative by imp-opeircomsor no coins.

6. In acoin controlled turnstile, a support,

a hollow cylinder rotatable thereon, stile arms carried'by saidcylinder, a frame on said support extending into'the cylinder, a coinreceivingibaflle tiltajble on said support, a bolt spring pressed tolock said cylinder to the frame, a'main slide, a forward and a rearslide on the main slide, a gear pivoted on the forward slide, slidableracks engaging said gear on its opposite'sides, detector pins in theforward ends of said racks to contact with coins on said baflle, meansto return said'ra'cks to their initial position after operation, a latchpivoted in the forward slide to normally abut the rear slide, means forcamming off said latch upon excessive forward movement of the forwardslide, a lever pivoted in the mainslide to retract said bolt, means totilt said lever upon the advance of the rear slide, and means totransmit movement of said lever to said battle. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

GEORGE E. GROVER.

